Today the world lost a world-class leprechaun. His name was Joe Laird. For decades he photographed the famous and wannabes for The Dallas Morning News. There was something magical about him. With the twinkle in his sky-blue eyes and the mischievous smile, he called out the famous and infamous by their first names. “Hey, Stanley!”, “Hey, Sophia!”, “Hey…”
Joe always called everyone by their first name and no boldfacer minded. They didn’t mind because each of Joe’s photos somehow made them look better than they had dreamt. And this was a time before Photoshop and digital enhancement. Joe just knew how to make them respond magically.
Perhaps that’s why Neiman’s would arrange for Joe to take a two-week vacation from his normal duties at The Dallas Morning News photography staff to work the legendary Neiman Marcus Fortnight.
It was during the Italian Fortnight that, upon Sophia Loren’s departure at Love Field (DFW International was still dirt), she beckoned him up the ramp. He obeyed and she planted a kiss lip-to-lip. Later he claimed it was like making contact with the world’s most glorious pillows.
And speaking of pillows, Joe was a gentleman. There was an “enhanced” glorious socialite who embraced Joe. He whispered later that it was like hugging cement bricks. But he would never admit her name.
And despite the glamorous crowds that he photographed and schmoozed with, he always looked and talked about the loves of his life — his wife, the legendary Mary Laird, and their collection of Laird kids.
Within moments of knowing Joe, one was aware that Joe was an expert when it came to Volvos. Why? Because each one that he purchased would become a hand-me-down to his kids for whom he served as mechanic.
He adored his Mary. No matter how late the event or how glamorous the gathering, he would go to his darkroom, produce the photos for the persnickety writers and head directly home. There was no schmoozing with the guys at an after-hours bar. He knew the best place to be was with Mary and the kids.
Despite having survived heart-attack deaths on the operating table, Joe wasn’t without his fears. On one occasion when DMN staffers were returning from an associate’s funeral, Joe was discovered in his darkroom seated on a stool with his head bowed. When questioned, he said, “I don’t go to funerals.” Perhaps that’s because this Marine had encountered death too many times before.
You couldn’t blame the guy. After all, at a couple of points in his life, he had suffered devastating heart attacks. One resulted in his losing large amounts of weight and take up jogging. In his Oak Cliff neighborhood, he eventually became “the guy with the dogs.” Seems his daughter Sandi Laird became an animal rescuer and Joe and Mary supported her efforts with animals joining the Laid household. It was no surprise to see Joe doing his morning jogs with a herd of dogs in tow.
So typical of Joe, at the age of 90 he didn’t let on that he wasn’t feeling all so great. According to Jonnie England, “Joe had been ill and pretty much bedridden for a few months and, typically Joe, refused to go to the doctor. Until yesterday, when he started experiencing a lot of pain. Only then did they learn that he had colon cancer. He was a tough fighter until the end.”
Yes, he was a fighter until the end and that fight came to an end this morning.
Joe’s memorial services will be this Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Jeter and Sons Funeral Home on West Illinois, with internment at 1:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery at Mountain Creek Lake.
Don’t you just know that he’s calling God by his first name? And, yes, Joe still has a twinkle in his eye, a killer smile and is jogging with a pack of dogs across the rainbow bridge.
Jonnie England says
Jeanne, Joe would absolutely love your tribute! I can just see him crinkling up his face into a wide grin and laughing out loud. He was a character, and reveled in that knowledge. And he was a dog lover par excellence. About 20 years ago, knowing that he lived in my neighborhood, I was still shocked to see Joe on a hot summer morning, shirtless, walking four dogs–two leashes in each hand! It was quite a change from the debonair tuxedo-clad Joe Laird I was used to seeing at KERA’s social events. He was one-of-a-kind, and we were lucky to have him in our midst.
James Overton says
Lovely.
Larry Powell says
Wonderful tribute to a genuine gentleman.
Giana dePaul says
A beautifully written, heartfelt tribute. I never knew him, but now I wish I had!
Michelle Mew says
I agree with Giana, he was someone I wish I had known.
Steve Ueckert says
Lotta love there, Jeanne. THNX
Kristina Bowman says
This is a beautiful tribute to an all around great guy. I love this terrific shot of him too! Joe and Andy were at all of Dallas’ biggest events and I will always cherish the memories of that “old guard” and how they took me under their wing when I first started shooting the same events. I loved Joe’s snarky, under his breath, comments. I always respected him greatly, but now that I know he saved dogs too, I adore him even more. He was a legend.
David Woo says
A great tribute to a great photographer who was always smiling and I never saw him in a bad mood. Joe will be missed, but we all have our own personal memories. He taught me so much about photography, but he really taught me about life and how to meet and greet people on assignments.
Betsy Johnson says
A beautiful tribute! Joe and Mary have been beautiful neighbors. When I moved to my home, next door to them, they welcomed me warmly. Joe knew I was working two jobs, so he mowed my yard during those hot summer days for years. In return, when we had snow days, I was able to shovel our sidewalks, since school was cancelled. I had the better deal, we did not have as many snows days as hot summer days! When Joe was not comfortable walking his four dogs through the neighborhood, he put them in his SUV and took them for a drive on Saturday morning. It has been an honor to know both Joe and Mary and their beautiful family.
Robin C. Laird says
Thank you for your kind words and this photo. He was my Papa Joe and I miss him.